Community protests B-K-W basketball coach getting “cut from the team”

An angry crowd of parents, students and athletic support staff crowded into the Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School auditorium Monday night to criticize the school board for not disclosing why it fired boys’ varsity basketball coach Andy Wright and for not consulting with the school district’s athletic director prior to its decision.

Wright, a 36-year-old social studies teacher at Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School and a B-K-W graduate, has coached the varsity boys’ basketball team for ten years. Although Wright has a solid coaching record, with eight of his team members going on to play college basketball, the board recently decided not to reappoint him as coach for an 11th year, with no explanation provided other than a desire to take the basketball program “in a new direction.”

“What is the new direction?” asked Dennis Barber, a 1973 B-K-W graduate, who was one of 19 people to address the board on Wright’s behalf at Monday’s meeting. “If there is a new direction, why wasn’t the athletic director contacted?”

Tom Galvin, a B-K-W high school social studies teacher and girls’ basketball coach, resigned from his position as the district’s athletic director upon learning of the board’s decision against Wright.

“It was a tough decision to resign, but in the end we need to do what’s right,” Galvin said at Monday’s meeting. “We have to stand strong together because coaching is tough and you can’t make everybody happy.”

Other coaches expressed a fear of losing their positions due to personnel issues. “I don’t know why Andy is no longer coaching the kids that he loves, the sport that he loves, at the school that he loves, and it’s the not knowing that’s the problem,” said James Lemire, a varsity volleyball coach at B-K-W.

Although the board remained silent on their reasons for not reinstating Wright, they praised the Bulldogs’ coach earlier in the evening for his dedication to teaching when he and two other faculty members were given a 10-year service award for which Wright received a standing ovation.

Those who attended Monday’s meeting speculated criticism about lack of playing time factored into the board’s decision not to reinstate Wright and argued that playing time at the varsity level should be competitive and determined by skill.

“Varsity sports are the highest level of competition most of these players are likely to ever see, why would we water that down?” asked Eric Prescott, B-K-W class of 2009, who played basketball for Wright and admittedly didn’t see much playing time.

“Being on a team is an honor, it’s something you earn, be proud of that. If you’re unhappy with your place on the team than work to change that,” he said.

Current Bulldog varsity basketball players also spoke on behalf of their coach. “It is not for his lack of caring or dedication that this issue is occurring,” said B-K-W high school senior Cory DePeaux. With his teammates behind him as he addressed the board, DePeaux described Wright’s dedication to coaching and his importance to B-K-W’s basketball program.

“He’s like a father to me, and many of these players. Any issues in school, out of school, personal life, we come to him.”

Wright’s supporters also flouted School Board President Joan Adriance’s two minute limit on speakers addressing the board.

“I need more than two minutes,” Dennis said. Other speakers also protested the time limit.

Wright was informed of the board’s decision three weeks ago; a little over a month before basketball season begins. Galvin said it was unfair for Wright to lose his coaching position so close to the beginning of the season.

Speaking on his own behalf, although he had been advised against addressing the board, Wright expressed the concern that the board’s decision was based on input from a few individuals rather than on any real knowledge of him as a coach or a person.

When the public forum portion of the meeting ended most of the crowd departed angry and frustrated that their show of support for Wright did not produce an explanation from the board on its decision.

School board member Earl Barcomb, who was contacted a day after the meeting, declined to comment further on the board’s decision saying he was unable to answer specific personnel questions. He did, however, acknowledge the concerns of the crowd, saying the meeting gave board members a lot to think and talk about.

“I appreciate hearing from all the community members there, and it was great to see such a turn out and such a passionate support for Mr. Wright. I was impressed with the level of passion and support that he got.”